Golf Books #19 (Golf by Design: How to Lower Your Score by Reading the Features of a Course)

For the first time in paperback–the book in which America’s preeminent designer of golf courses reveals his secrets to playing better, smarter golf. Copiously illustrated throughout with full-color photographs, instructional drawings, and diagrams, GOLF BY DESIGN teaches golfers how to analyze each hole from a designer’s perspective–how to beat the course by outwitting its architect.

From tee to green, from fairway to rough, Jones leads golfers through every step of a course designer’s strategy, detailing how architects use optical illusions, elevation changes, forced carries, trees, sand, and even different types of grass to challenge a golfer’s playing skills. He then presents expert strategies for counterattack–from constructing the ideal approach shot to taking advantage of the wind and playing across water.

GOLF BY DESIGN provides novice golfers with invaluable insights into all of the basic, crucial elements of strategy and technique. At the same time, the book offers seasoned players the inside knowledge they need for lowering their handicap and permanently improving their game.

A time-honored adage of the sports world is that fundamentals come from the ground up, and Golf by Design literally exemplifies this statement. The author, an internationally acclaimed golf course architect, has produced a how-to work of considerable technical and artistic merit. The result is a well-written golfing masterpiece. Included are discussions of golf as analogous to chess and pool, as well as instructional line drawings that simplify the most difficult scenarios. Spectacular color photographs of 60 of the world’s most challenging courses further enhance this one-of-a-kind guide that is likely to become a classic. Highly recommended for most public libraries.
Albert Spencer, Coll. of Education, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas – Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the author – Robert Trent Jones Jr. has designed or remodelled more than 200 award-winning golf courses around the world and has been called the ‘father of modern environmental golf course architecture’.